Our first full softball recap at PowerMizzou comes on Monday night, but here's the press release from tonight's walk-off win for the Tigers.
No. 20 Mizzou Softball Powers Past No. 8 Auburn, 5-4, in Extras
Keslea Roth launches two-run walk-off home run in the eighth inning
Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Softball walked-off on No. 8 Auburn with a 5-4 win in game two of their three-game series, as senior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.) hit a two-run game-ending home run to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the win, Mizzou moves to 22-6 on the year, including a 5-3 record in conference play. Mizzou mustered together three separate rallies in the win, as the Tigers trailed 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 during the contest.
Sophomore pitcher Tori Finucane (Germantown, M.D.) got the start for the Tigers, looking to improve upon her team-leading 10 wins on the year. At the end of her night, Finucane had pitched a career-high eight innings and allowed just five hits (the fewest by Auburn on the season). With one on and one out in the third inning, Auburn jumped to a 2-0 lead on a hit batter followed by a home run to right field.
In the next inning, junior 2B Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) launched a solo homerun of her own to the same spot to cut Auburn's lead in half. In the fifth inning, junior RF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) came up to bat with two runners on, looking to tie the game. Crane proceeded to lift a double down the left field line to draw the game even at 2-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, the long ball hurt Mizzou again as Auburn sent a solo shot into the left field bleachers. In the bottom of the inning, coach Earleywine strategized Mizzou's last chance at a comeback. Earleywine pinch-hit with sophomore Jordan Zolman (Arbyrd, Mo.). Zolman promptly sent a ball screaming off the centerfield wall for a stand-up double - just the second double of her career.
Earleywine then pinch ran for Zolman with Kayla Kingsley (Oklahoma City, Okla.), who was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.). Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) brought Kingsley home by beating out an infield single to tie the game at 3-3.
In extras, Auburn launched their third homerun of the day. Trailing for the third separate occasion in the game, Mizzou was in familiar territory. With a runner in scoring position, stepped into the box; on the second pitch of the at bat, Roth scorched a ball into centerfield. The ball bounced off the top of the elevated wall in center and caromed into the camera well on the other side of the face for a walk-off two-run homerun, her 38th-career round-tripper.
Mizzou is back in action tomorrow on Sunday, March 29. Mizzou and Auburn will meet in the rubber match of the series with first pitch set for noon, live on the SEC Network.
No. 20 Mizzou Softball Powers Past No. 8 Auburn, 5-4, in Extras
Keslea Roth launches two-run walk-off home run in the eighth inning
Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Softball walked-off on No. 8 Auburn with a 5-4 win in game two of their three-game series, as senior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.) hit a two-run game-ending home run to center field in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the win, Mizzou moves to 22-6 on the year, including a 5-3 record in conference play. Mizzou mustered together three separate rallies in the win, as the Tigers trailed 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 during the contest.
Sophomore pitcher Tori Finucane (Germantown, M.D.) got the start for the Tigers, looking to improve upon her team-leading 10 wins on the year. At the end of her night, Finucane had pitched a career-high eight innings and allowed just five hits (the fewest by Auburn on the season). With one on and one out in the third inning, Auburn jumped to a 2-0 lead on a hit batter followed by a home run to right field.
In the next inning, junior 2B Sami Fagan (Dunnellon, Fla.) launched a solo homerun of her own to the same spot to cut Auburn's lead in half. In the fifth inning, junior RF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) came up to bat with two runners on, looking to tie the game. Crane proceeded to lift a double down the left field line to draw the game even at 2-2.
In the top of the seventh inning, the long ball hurt Mizzou again as Auburn sent a solo shot into the left field bleachers. In the bottom of the inning, coach Earleywine strategized Mizzou's last chance at a comeback. Earleywine pinch-hit with sophomore Jordan Zolman (Arbyrd, Mo.). Zolman promptly sent a ball screaming off the centerfield wall for a stand-up double - just the second double of her career.
Earleywine then pinch ran for Zolman with Kayla Kingsley (Oklahoma City, Okla.), who was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Natalie Fleming (Silex, Mo.). Taylor Gadbois (Maryville, Mo.) brought Kingsley home by beating out an infield single to tie the game at 3-3.
In extras, Auburn launched their third homerun of the day. Trailing for the third separate occasion in the game, Mizzou was in familiar territory. With a runner in scoring position, stepped into the box; on the second pitch of the at bat, Roth scorched a ball into centerfield. The ball bounced off the top of the elevated wall in center and caromed into the camera well on the other side of the face for a walk-off two-run homerun, her 38th-career round-tripper.
Mizzou is back in action tomorrow on Sunday, March 29. Mizzou and Auburn will meet in the rubber match of the series with first pitch set for noon, live on the SEC Network.
